Page 16 of The Wedding Toast (The Hamiltons #10)

Becca laughed out loud. Callie had been her protector back in elementary school. Callie’s brothers were known as the tough kids, but they weren’t mean – they were fair. They only beat up on bullies, and Callie had learned from them.

“I’m not sure Grady and Hannah would appreciate you teaching her your ways.”

“I don’t need to teach her how to kick their butts, only how to stand her ground when they start being mean to her.”

“Okay then, that I think we can go for.”

As they turned and started walking toward Hannah and Grady’s cottage, Callie said, “I love this for you, Becs, I really do.”

“Thanks, I love it for me too. I just wish you’d move a little closer.”

Callie just laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think the folks around here would appreciate my work too much.”

“I do. In fact, I kept meaning to tell you – the mug you made for me, everyone wants one of those.”

Callie laughed. “You’re just being nice.”

“I so am not,” said Becca. “And if you keep saying stuff like that, I’m going to start taking orders from everyone who says they want one. Then you’ll see.”

She wished her friend would accept that her work was worth so much more than she sold it for, and that if she wanted to, she could build a real business around it rather than only selling at the local markets and from her little Etsy store.

~ ~ ~

“What are you looking for?” Reaves asked.

Ollie glanced over at his friend as he drove up the long driveway at the Jacobs estate on Thursday morning.

“What do you mean?”

Reaves chuckled. “You look as though you’re searching for something – or someone.”

Ollie made a face at him. “I shouldn’t have told you, should I? You’re only going to give me grief now, aren’t you?”

“Nah, I’m only messing with you. It was just the way you were looking around, as if this Callie might be out here somewhere. I don’t think we’ll see her this morning, do you?”

“No, probably not. And for what it’s worth, I really wasn’t looking for her. There’s no need to give me a hard time.”

Reaves laughed. “I wasn’t giving you a hard time. If anyone’s doing that, it should be you giving me a hard time. At least the girl you’re looking out for is a hot chick. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for a three-foot little imp.”

Ollie had to laugh. Reaves had told him about his encounter with Zia.

“To be fair, I’m kind of looking forward to meeting her myself.”

It made him laugh when Reaves gave him a mock scowl.

“You chase this Callie if you want. But you can’t have Zia – she’s my little buddy.”

“I get the feeling that I can chase Callie as much as I like,” said Ollie. “She’s not going to be interested. But from what everyone’s said so far, if I meet this Zia, she might at least give me a name.”

“She will, and it’ll probably be a cool one.” Reaves made a face.

“I guess we’ll have to see about that,” he said as he parked his SUV in front of the offices and pointed to Bentley’s car that was sitting near the front doors. “I didn’t think he’d be here yet. We’d better run on in.”

They were at the beginning of what was going to be a very busy few days. They’d gone over the schedule several times already, but Jacob had wanted to go through the guest list and the flight plans one last time.

Ollie smiled when the girl at the reception desk got to her feet to greet them.

“Hi guys, they’re in the conference room. Do you want me to—”

“That’s okay, thanks,” said Reaves. “We know where it is.”

He winked at Ollie as they walked down the hallway, leaving the girl staring after them. “You’re welcome,” he said.

Ollie only shrugged. “She’s nice enough.”

“I know, but you don’t need any complications this week. Not if you want to get to know Callie.”

“True.”

Ollie couldn’t help smiling when he thought about her.

He kept replaying in his mind the moment that he’d first seen her.

When he’d landed at Little River, he’d thought he was going to have to wait a while.

And just as he’d started to relax and enjoy the scenery, she’d called his name. A shiver ran down his spine.

He’d been expecting some kind of hippie chick, so he’d been shocked – stunned, if he were honest – when he turned around to see a gorgeous girl dressed in cargo pants and a denim jacket, a duffel slung over her shoulder, her light brown hair tied in a messy braid.

It had been gray and damp at the airfield, but he swore a ray of sunshine had broken through the clouds when he laid eyes on her.

Reaves snapped his fingers in front of his face with a chuckle. “Hey, come back to me,” he said when they reached the door to the conference room. “We need to talk through scheduling and flight plans with these guys one last time. I need you with me. Are you with me?”

Ollie laughed. “Yeah, I am.”

He pushed the door open, and they walked in to join Jacob and Bentley, and Trick and Elliott, who were already there waiting.

He checked his watch. “Sorry we’re—”

“You’re not,” said Jacob with a smile. “I’m the one who should be apologizing for making us all meet and go over the details one last time. I know you guys know what you’re doing. I just…”

Bentley smiled. “There’s no need to apologize, is there, guys?”

“Not at all,” said Ollie. The others murmured their agreement.

Trick and Elliott ran just as tight an operation as he and Reaves did. Attention to detail came with the territory. But since the details of all their flights over the next few days were part of the logistics of Jacob’s wedding, Ollie couldn’t blame the guy for wanting to stay on top of it all.

For the next half an hour, the six of them talked details, and Ollie was surprised at just how often his mind returned to Callie. He should probably forget about her. She lived all the way up there in Fort Bragg anyway.

But… he smiled, remembering the way she shook hands with him, pumping his hand up and down.

She seemed to shine when she smiled, and her hand had felt warm inside his.

Warm and rough, she was down to earth, a maker.

He didn’t know how to describe it; he only knew that she was different from most of the women he knew.

He made a face; he found it attractive that she was so…

real. But he already knew that she wasn’t likely to even give him a chance.

She’d seemed relieved when he’d said that no, he wasn’t from one of the wine families.

She’d told him that she felt a little out of place around them – she wasn’t used to the planes and the big estates and the kind of people who lived here.

By then, he wasn’t going to set her straight about his own background – he didn’t want to put her off and blow any chance he might have.

As they all walked back outside a little while later, Jacob caught his gaze. “Mind if I have a quick word before you leave?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll see you outside,” said Reaves.

He had to laugh as he watched his friend hurry down the steps.

“What’s the deal with him?” Jacob asked.

“I think he wants to see if the little girl’s around.”

Jacob chuckled. “He’s not alone. Zia seems to be winning hearts wherever she goes – winning hearts and bestowing names. Have you met her yet?”

“No, but from what I hear, I’m a little nervous.”

“I can see why. It could go either way. I’m saddled with King of the Cornflowers – although, I also get to be ruler of the Empire, so it’s not all bad.”

“Reaves is Prince Daddy, and I feel like he’s not as upset about that as he should be.”

Jacob laughed. “I know, I’m not sure what to make of that one. So far, I think Slade wins – he’s the growly dragon.”

“So I heard. I’m almost tempted to look a bit scary to see if that earns me a better name.”

“I’d advise against it – she’d probably see right through it and name you accordingly.”

“Good to know,” said Ollie. “But sorry, you wanted a word?”

“Only to let you know that Will’s going to handle everything while we’re on our honeymoon. I know you don’t usually get involved, but I didn’t want you to think that there’d be any gaps.”

“Thanks. It hadn’t even occurred to me. I leave everything to—”

Jacob held his gaze. “You still don’t want to learn or…?”

“No. All I ever wanted to do was fly.” He frowned. “Does the arrangement still work for you?”

Jacob nodded quickly. “It does. If I keep checking with you it’s because I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage.”

“You’re not. The way things are works for both of us. I’d never sell the place, but I’ve never wanted to be in the wine business. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do me any favors though, if it’s not working for you. I can…”

“It works very well for me – and we both know that if I wanted out, Bentley would jump at the chance.”

Ollie chuckled. “Yeah. If we ever do make any changes, it’d be to maybe cut him in somehow, but for now, it’s all good. I don’t have any problems if you don’t.”

“I don’t.” Jacob checked his watch. “I do have an appointment with Chuck and Alara though, to talk cornflowers and arches. I’d better be on my way.”

“See you soon then.”

“You will, and thanks again. And don’t forget, any issues with the flights or passengers, Trick’s offered to be the troubleshooter and take care of all the details.”

“Just like always – he’s like the big brother of the team.”

“And I’m glad to have him.”

“We all are,” Ollie agreed.